Senator Stephen Conroy has used his keynote speech at the 2009 AusCert conference, held this week on the Gold Coast, to call for a renewed emphasis on cyber security.

There are opportunities and challenges for the Australian economy, the Senator said, and the high tech sector's reliance on technology infrastructure makes it vulnerable to cyber attack.

'The security of the network is a top priority," he said, speaking of the $43 billion National Broadband Network, which is the largest infrastructure project in Australian history.

"The confidence of businesses and of citizens in the network in key to its success."

He said that as part of the implementation planning for the National Broadband Network that national security and identification security would be taken into consideration.

Last September, he said, the Rudd government issued its National Security Statement, the first of its kind ever released in Australia.

"E-security is in the top ten of national security priorities," he said.

He also emphasised that individuals are vulnerable to cyber threats.

According to the ABS, $1 billion was lost by individuals in cyber scams during 2007, the most recent period for which figures are available.

"We need to raise the level of security awareness further," he said, so that individuals could take charge of their personal security when online.

"More needs to be done."